As Israeli officials work to untangle the mess at Ben Gurion International Airport in the wake of an international ban on flights in and out of Tel Aviv, an ominous question is hanging over the Jewish State.

Did the United States allow Hamas terrorists to rule over Israel’s skies? Why would an “ally” do such a thing?

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Although the FAA lifted its ban — which had to be approved by the White House — by midnight Wednesday, it still wasn’t clear whether airlines got the message. Worse, perhaps they had.

The damage incurred by an unprecedented 48-hour FAA ban on flights to Israel by U.S. carriers was incalculable, triggering a cascade of bans and possibly unparalleled damage to Israel’s economy.

The European Aviatian Safety Agency (EASA) “strongly recommended” its airlines avoid operating in and out of Tel Aviv.

Air France, Lufhansa, Germanwings, Austrian Airlines, Alitalia, Aeroflot and its associated airlines, and Turkish Airlines all suspended flights. Air Canada, generally a strong supporter of the Jewish State, also shied away.

Many still have not reinstated their flights. Those that have still have not established regular schedules. Ben Gurion airport is still a mess, with desperate travelers trying to figure out how to find their luggage and fix their ruined plans. Tracking down food, caring for children, getting enough sleep, changing clothes and dealing with hygiene needs — all of these issues were cast aside by many airlines after the first 24 hours, and by some from the very start, travelers told Israeli radio interviewers.

British Airways alone maintained its twice-daily flights to Ben Gurion International Airport from London Heathrow Airport.

Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu offered his gratitude and special thanks to British Foreign Minister Phillip Hammond on Thursday in a news briefing with media, noting that apparently Britain alone understood the importance of not handing a “free prize to Hamas terror.”

Fifteen minutes before midnight, the FAA lifted its flight restrictions on U.S. airline flights into and out of Ben Gurion airport “by cancelling a Notice to Airmen it renewed earlier today…

“Before making this decision, the FAA worked with its U.S. government counterparts to assess the security situation in Israel and carefully reviewed both significant new information and measures the Government of Israel is taking to mitigate potential risks to civil aviation,” the notice read.

The back step followed a hugely publicized flight to Israel by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who scorned the FAA moved as ridiculous. Bloomberg immediately boarded an El Al plane straight to Tel Aviv, declaring to reporters that Ben Gurion International Airport is the safest in the world. The prime minister greeted Bloomberg at the airport, thanking him for coming and calling him a friend and a “man of principle and truth.”

93 COMMENTS

I’m sure some will argue there was some big plot against Israel, but American culture isn’t really hardened for anything. We live in a little bubble where the only things that disrupt our lives is the weather. In DC when it rains even for five minutes, the drivers slow from 75 MPH to 15 MPH and a 5 minute commute turns into 2 hours.

In Israeli culture we tend to be fast thinking and fast acting. We don’t let things linger and we move on. I’m not at all surprised the FAA reacted the way they did, in their minds they probably imagined mortars and rockets exploding around airplanes as they land and take off.

My general point being that I don’t think there was anything nefarious in the FAA’s actions. Just an overactive imagination and then taking what they thought were the safest steps.

I work for a major airline. Believe me the FAA didn’t ground the US carriers of their own accord. They were given an executive order straight from the White House. It was nothing more than a political ploy to try and force Israel into a cease fire. Can’t stand the Muslim sitting in the White House he is as radical as Hamas.

Billy, Israel is the only Jewish homeland. There are plenty of Arab ones. The Israelites occupied the land of Canaan thousands of years ago when they conquered Canaan with Gods help. The Palestinians are just a collection of various Arab groups who have gravitated there over the centuries. It’s Israeli land by right of conquest. Nothing will change Gods decree.

FAA has reversed it Ban.Most airlines still are not flying in. As I am watching T V the iron dome shot down a missile near an Israeli airport. United just announced they will resume the flights.
Try using an open mind. With what happened in the Ukraine what would the anti obama groups say if a passenger plane did get hit in Israel before the ban,

NO!!!!! Allan, someone farted in the White House, and it was a Muslim terrorist smoke signal reading 666 to Hamas. that tried to smother John Hagee before angels of Beelzebub caught it, put it in a poop jar to deliver to all the (secretly) Muslim airlines run by Hamas and Satan. You must start watching CBN if you care about the holy truth. 😉

Dear Saiful, writing to Hamas on a purportedly Jewish FB page will assure they get your message!!! How does Hamas get a message? The Gaza post office may be closed, and Hamas may be getting too dead to read it. The end. Ps- I hope someone gets the letter. The thing about Israel not being official is something they’ll be interested in learning. Think they’ll get mad and send a rocket or two??

Dear Saiful, writing to Hamas on a purportedly Jewish FB page will assure they get your message!!! How does Hamas get a message? The Gaza post office may be closed, and Hamas may be getting too dead to read it. The end. Ps- I hope someone gets the letter. The thing about Israel not being official is something they’ll be interested in learning. Think they’ll get mad and send a rocket or two??